Cutting back on clutter can be a freeing experience and can create a very serene living environment in your home. According to the Mayo Clinic, decluttering your space can leave you both happier and healthier. However, when you are ready to declutter, don't just start throwing things into the trash. Instead, follow these tips to declutter your home in an eco-friendly way.

Upcycle, Recycle, or Donate
Instead of throwing away your old T-shirts, jeans, and other clothing, give them new life and turn them into something you can use; for example, T-shirts can become headbands or scarves. Jeans, on the other hand, can easily become tote bags, kids’ games, or Christmas stockings — with a little work. If you aren't handy with the sewing machine, or you just want these items out of your house, recycle them instead. You can recycle almost anything, from clothing to electronics, through recycling centers in your area. For your favorite sentimental treasures, give them to a younger relative to keep them in the family. It will bring you joy to see someone else enjoying something that you love. Local charities in your area may also appreciate donations, especially bigger items you don’t want sitting in a landfill, such as furniture.


Sell What You Can
If you have various items that you think someone else might buy, have a yard sale or use an online site such as Craigslist, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace to get rid of your stuff. Books, clothing, electronics, furniture, and toys are always sought after. Not only will you be able to declutter your home, but you'll also make a little money along the way. Use safe practices when selling to strangers; meet in a public place and have someone with you as a precaution.

Go Digital
Embrace the cloud! Get rid of paper clutter stored in your home by going digital. Physical photos and other important documents can be scanned (or photographed with your smartphone) and uploaded to cloud storage (some are free, though others will run you around $5.99 per month, depending on what you need). You should also have your smartphone set to automatically back up your photos to the cloud as well. If you have a lot of photographs or paperwork, you can actually hire a service to scan and archive everything for you. Rest assured the vast majority of cloud storage services are safe and secure, using multi-layer encryption and other processes to protect your privacy and your documents. Paper documents can be lost or destroyed by fire, moisture, and other means, while digital documents will be around forever.​

Clean Green
After you’ve decluttered, you need to deep-clean your home to give yourself a fresh start. Rather than using cleaning products made with chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and your family, use homemade cleansers made with baking soda and vinegar. You can also find eco-friendly cleaners at most grocery stores; just read the labels carefully. Look for the EPA's Safer Choice symbol to help identify products that are safer for human health and the environment.
Decluttering your home in an eco-friendly way will leave you with more space and less waste. After you declutter, it doesn’t mean you need to stop making new purchases altogether. However, you should give more thought to what you buy. Try to avoid impulse shopping, and only purchase what you really want or need. Also, be sure to shop from manufacturers and retailers that care about the environment as much as you do.

​Photo via Pixabay

​Have you ever heard of water stress? It is a serious dilemma and is becoming increasingly worse with population growth and urbanization during a time when climate change appears to be affecting precipitation. However, you can help make a difference just by incorporating water conservation into everyday life. From simple things like using dropped ice cubes to water your plants to installing an instant water heater under your kitchen sink, here are over 200 simple and practical ways to save water:

https://sensibledigs.com/ways-to-save-water/
 
We would like to thank Sensible Digs for sharing this resource with us!

Let us know what other ways you have found to conserve water.

Happy Saving!

Long-distance care for your aging parent can feel complicated, but it doesn’t have to be that way.  Technology offers some great tools to simplify your situation and can even save you money. Plus, by incorporating these great tech options into your and your loved one’s routine, you can help bridge the miles.

Thanks to Jason Lewis from Strong Well for contributing the following article:
 
Technology Cuts Costs
 
Eighty-six percent of American healthcare spending goes toward chronic conditions, and nine out of 10 seniors suffer from one or more chronic health concern like diabetes or heart disease.  According to TechCrunch, incorporating technology into seniors’ care routines can cut their health costs by eliminating unnecessary trips to the hospital. 
 
Tools That Help
 
Advances in technology can make your life much easier as a long-distance caregiver.  You can help your parents with wearables, apps or online services.

• Wearables:  With the advent of wearable health gadgets, taking care of people with chronic health conditions is becoming easier.  Experts recommend devices such as smartwatches to alert patients when it’s time for medications, to track daily activity and to alert you if there is an emergency.  Some smartwatch options are:
  • Tempo by Carepredict.  The Tempo learns about the wearer’s normal patterns of behavior and sends alerts to caregivers regarding unusual activity.  If your parent is moving around less than usual or misses a meal, it lets you know.
  • Omate Wherecom S3. This device is specifically oriented for seniors and is designed for them to understand.  It can remind them when medications are due and has a messaging system.  An emergency button sends the wearer’s location via GPS. 
  • Lively Safety Watch.  This wearable offers a dedicated button which signals the Lively Care Center when pressed.  A staff member then calls the wearer to evaluate the situation, and can alert emergency personnel or family members as needed.  This device requires no internet or phone line.

 

• Apps: According to the experts at Mashable, employing apps to help relieve some of your caregiving burden is crucial.  Here are some of the choices available:
  • iPharmacy Pro.  If you need help keeping track of the medications your parent is taking, this app can help. This app identifies medications, warns you of potential drug interactions, and it tracks prescriptions.
  • CareZone.  CareZone helps you track medical data such as allergies, appointments, insurance information, and medications.
  • AARP Caregiving.  This app gives caregivers information about health issues and symptoms, tracks medications and appointments, and helps coordinate care with other family members.

 

• Online Support Services:  Many online services are designed to help support healthcare.  Here are some options suggested by Reader’s Digest:
  • Carelinx.  This service helps you find direct care options that match both your budget and needs.
  • Evermind.  Evermind tracks daily use of electronic appliances.  You can see if normal activity is taking place.
  • LivWell Health.  This subscription service assists you with healthcare decisions.  It screens health service providers, offers video chatting and assists you with coordinating care. 

 
More Than Miles Between You
 
Many families suffer with old emotional wounds.  Seeing your parent age and needing your help can bring unhealed problems to the surface.  Sometimes there is a history of addiction, and perhaps you’re reminded when you’re reviewing medications and worrying about over-usage.  These are issues that can feel monumental to overcome.  The Painful Truth explains that “family members suffer a spectrum of raw negative emotions over the discovery of the problem, such as guilt, shame, worry, fear, frustration and anger.”  They advise that self-care will be the key to being able to help your parent and to be effective.  Attend support groups, reach out to family, and participate in your favorite hobbies.  
 
Long-distance Outreach
 
Technology offers many tools for supporting your parent from afar, and can even cut costs.  Reach out to your senior loved one through wearables, apps and online services.  And if you need to reconcile an old rift, make sure you put self-care first.  These tools and tips can help your situation become less complicated and give you both peace of mind. 

Thanks to Jason Lewis from Strong Well for contributing the following article:

​Going to church can be a great way for the elderly to get out, socialize, and stay active in their community, but it turns out that attending church can benefit seniors in even more significant ways. A substantial body of research shows that church may improve the health of aging adults, from physical to mental wellbeing. Following are a few health perks that seniors can enjoy when they stay active in a church community.

Better Preventive Care
Attending church makes seniors more likely to stay on top of preventive health care, from flu shots to cancer screenings, according to one study. Seniors who struggle to afford regular visits to their primary care doctor can find a valuable resource in church-sponsored health fairs that perform cholesterol screenings, flu shots, and other services. Church communities also tend to promote healthy lifestyles that include regular check-ups and cancer screenings.

Earlier Detection
When a senior spends time with the same group of people every week, they have a support network that’s able to notice changes in health and behavior that could easily be overlooked in a more socially isolated person. For this reason, church attendance promotes early detection of illness in older adults.

Improved Treatment Compliance
Seniors who are active in church tend to better comply with treatment regimens prescribed by their doctors after an illness or injury. Not only are they more likely to have a social network checking up on their health, but seniors who regularly attend church will also be more accustomed to the regimented schedule that most treatment plans require.

Longer Lives
All of the above benefits of church amount to a major perk of attending those weekly sermons: Going to church helps you live longer. According to a study, weekly church attendees are up to 33 percent less likely to die prematurely than those who never attend.

Decreased Loneliness
Social isolation poses a big problem for senior citizens. As children move away, friends pass on, and mobility wanes, it’s easy for elderly people to find themselves spending most of their time alone at home. Unfortunately, isolation and loneliness are linked to higher rates of depression, hastened cognitive decline, poorer recovery from injury and illness, and even earlier death. Church helps keep seniors socially active well into their later years as they find opportunities to mingle with peers and younger congregation members alike.

Increased Optimism
A study published in the Journal of Religion and Health showed that older people who attend church more than once a week are 56 percent more likely to have an optimistic outlook on life compared to non-churchgoers. Whether this is caused by the positive worldview espoused by many religions, healthier lifestyles, strong social connections, or something else isn’t clear, but
the effects are compelling: Thanks to these mood-boosting effects, churchgoers are also 22 percent less likely to experience depression compared to non-attendees.

Better Cognitive Health
​Attending church helps keep senior minds active in a number of ways. Hymns let the elderly practice memory recall, discovering new doctrine keeps them learning, and socializing with fellow congregation members provides ever-changing situations to keep the brain on its toes. All of these activities come together to create an environment that helps seniors stave off dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive disorders

Improved Coping Abilities
Old age can be an emotionally challenging time. Many seniors live to see friends and family pass away, experience illness and injury, and face stress-boosting isolation. Going to church regularly can help seniors cope during stressful times by encouraging them to focus on mindfulness and God’s will. It also gives older adults access to social activities that can take their minds off of stress and grief and offers a network of people to lean on in times of need.
 
You know that church can bring joy and purpose to your life, but you probably don’t realize just how deep the benefits of staying involved in church can run — especially in your later years. If you or a loved one are concerned about staying healthy in late life, consider finding new ways to get active in a congregation to enjoy all the perks of the church’s teachings and vibrant, compassionate community.
 
Image by Daniel Tseng

From celebrating Earth Day to participating in the March for Science, many people are looking into ways they can personally take action right now to help reverse the concerning trend of climate change. The idea of “going green” has been at the front of many people’s minds lately. If you’re one of those people, keep reading for some ideas on how you can help.
 
With so much devastating climate news being shared each day, it can start to feel like we don’t have any power to stop the changes taking place in our planet. “I’m just one person,” you might think to yourself, “How am I supposed to help stop this?”
 
Don’t worry; there are many reasons to remain hopeful. The good news is: you don’t have to have superhero powers to help stop climate change. We can all take small actions in our everyday lives and work together to heal the planet and reverse concerning trends such as global warming.
 
Here are some questions (and answers) regarding climate change and how you can help:
 
Q. What impact do humans have on climate change and global warming?
A. Rising global temperatures have resulted in changes in weather and climate patterns, including increased rainfall, increased temperatures, floods, droughts, and severe heat waves. Ocean levels are rising, the planet’s water is becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and many animals face extinction.
 
The reason behind these changes? Although some climate changes are natural, scientists and experts believe the recent acceleration of climate change can be directly linked back to humans. Since the Industrial Revolution in 1750, human activities have contributed to the “greenhouse effect” and a rise in CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere. Record levels of CO2 have recently caused the planet to warm, contributing to the rapidly changing climate patterns around the world.
 
Q. How can I help?
A. Armed with the knowledge that humans are directly contributing to climate change and global warming, there are a few things you can do to help. For starters, you can create a green home to help reduce your carbon footprint, save money, and live more sustainably.
 
Set your thermostat to a lower temperature throughout the year - and leave it there. Insulate your walls and install solar panels to help reduce energy usage. When your light bulbs burn out, replace them with compact fluorescent lightbulbs instead. Take shorter showers and wash clothing in cold water whenever you can.
 
Q. How can I reduce my carbon footprint?
A. In addition to having a more eco-friendly home as mentioned above, there are a few other ways you can make your home green to reduce your carbon footprint and help the environment. There are many online calculators you can use to determine your personal impact on the world’s carbon levels, water supply and other environmental issues. Once you understand your own personal contributions, you can begin taking steps towards reducing your impact on the environment.
 
In addition to modifying your home using the steps above, you can reduce your carbon footprint by going “green.” Experts recommend reducing your consumption of meat and dairy, and riding a bike, walking, carpooling, or taking public transportation whenever possible. Borrow or rent items instead of buying new items. Only purchase what you need, and be mindful about the items you do purchase. Try to support sustainable, eco-friendly and local businesses whenever you can. By working together, we each can do our part to reverse the trend of climate change.
 
This guest blog has been provided by Climatewise.co. Visit their website for more climate change information.

Earth Day comes once a year, but should be celebrated every day. Here at Going Green Limousine we reduce your CARbon footprint by using hybrids to reduce emissions by up to 80%. We also use flex-fuel vehicles and do carbon offsetting for even larger vehicles to assure as small of a footprint as possible when it comes to your ground transportation. We also believe it is our duty to share with you other products and services that are conservation minded or locally based, and we recently had the opportunity to meet some of these vendors at the Presidents Plaza Earth Day Exhibit on April 20, 2017.

Presidents Plaza (http://www.presidentsplaza.com/) is located at 8600 W Bryn Mawr Ave, Chicago, IL 60631, which is conveniently located near O’Hare airport and has 818,000 square feet of Leed certified office rental space. The hosted our Earth Day fair right outside of the fitness center and near the cafeteria, which is just some of the amenities this building offers its tenants. (773) 695-9960.

Andrew’s Caramels (https://andrewscaramel.com/) has been making all natural caramel apples fresh in Chicago for 60 years. Whether you like a plain Caramel Apple or something more exotic like a Turtle Caramel Apple, Andrew’s won’t disappoint you with their crisp apples and yummy caramel. Visit them at 6620 W Dakin St in Chicago. (773) 286-2224.

Bright Endeavors (https://brightendeavors.org/) sells soy candles that are made by young mothers who are empowered by learning a new craft and having a source of revenue through the Bright Endeavors paid job training program. Candles are available in a variety of scents and sizes and can also be rented out to venues and restaurants for single use events. (773) 388-2811.

Gallery’s Choice (https://www.galleryschoice.com/) is a three for one specialty shop located at 926 Warren Ave in Downers Grove. They offer (1) stunning handmade art from plaques to bowls, (2) a variety of art classes, and (3) a novel assortment of lavender products made and baked with lavender fresh from their local farm in Yorkville. 630-969-5660.

Open Space Organizing (http://openspaceorganizing.com/) helps declutter your life and gets you on the path of freedom. Your time is valuable and shouldn’t be wasted sifting through the same junk drawer or stack of papers repeatedly. If you don’t feel the energy moving in your home or office, Cathy and her crew can help you get started. 630-453-2582.
​
I have added these new contacts to our Green Links page as well, so you can find them there along with some of our other green resource listings. We hope you enjoyed learning about them. If you know of anybody that you think should be added to Green Links, drop us a line. We are always happy to encourage local sustainability. Thanks for Going Green!

The following guest blog has been provided by the Outreach Team at Personal Injury Help. Their information can be found at the end of the article.

Why to Use a Limousine Service Instead of a Ridesharing App
Ridesharing apps do seem to be popular, but they aren't the best choice for those needing transportation. There are several reasons you should consider using a limousine service instead of a rideshare. Before catching a ride, there are several things that you should take into consideration. By looking at all the facts, you can make a more informed decision and choose a safer alternative to get where you need to go. Regardless of what kind of transportation you are using, you need to make sure your safety is a priority.

Experience Does Count
Ridesharing companies and limousine services fall into different categories, so they have different requirements when it comes to staying licensed and operable. Limousine drivers have to maintain special certifications and a commercial driver's license (CDL). This means they must undergo routine Department of Transportation (DOT) physical examinations and submit to random drug screens. Ridesharing drivers can often have a traditional driver's license and depending upon the rideshare company they work for, their medical exams and drug screens might not be anywhere near as stringent or regular.

Regulations
Limousine services are more stringently regulated than most rideshare services. This means limousine drivers undergo more extensive background checks. When you get into a car, you want to know something about who you are getting in the vehicle with. You don't want to risk getting into the car with a driver who has a sketchy past. A limousine driver has to have a background that is free from violent crimes and that doesn't reflect drug or alcohol abuse. Background checks used by most ridesharing companies just adhere to the regulations and because they aren't as heavily regulated, they may not be as thorough or as strict.

Insurance
While you would like to think accidents don't happen, they can happen and they do happen. You want to make sure you are properly protected in the event of a crash. Limousine services have to meet specific business insurance requirements, which is usually a minimum of $1 million liability coverage. This way, if there is a crash you know your medical expenses and losses will be taken care of. Some rideshare companies require the driver to be connected to an app when in operation to ensure insurance coverage, so if there is a dead zone or a connection issue you may end up out of luck and paying out of pocket.

Getting a Ride
When selecting a form of transportation, choosing a limousine service over a rideshare can definitely impact your safety. You want to know you aren't getting in the vehicle with a habitual criminal with a record of sexual offenses and violent crimes. You want to know that you are being transported by someone who doesn't abuse drugs or alcohol and who has a clean driving record. And, in the event of an accident, you want to know adequate insurance coverage is in place. Choosing a limousine service is a much safer choice when you need to get somewhere.
 
This article was created by the Outreach Team at Personal Injury Help, an organization dedicated to providing the public with information about personal injury and safety information. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice or opinion, and is intended for informational use only. To find out more about them, you can go to www.personalinjury-law.com or contact them at [email protected]

There is little difference between poverty and food insecurity, and both result in the same deficiency: an inadequate and unhealthy diet. Per the World Food Programme, 795,000,000 (yes, that’s million) people in the world do not have enough food to eat. Feeding America Food Banks states that more than 42,000,000 of these people live in the Unites States and 1 out of 7 of those people live in Illinois. In Cook County alone, 1 in 6 people have food insecurity per A Just Harvest. That’s a total of 807,000 people, both adults and children, in Cook County that do not have enough proper food to eat.
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This year, Going Green Limousine is excited to host our very first food drive through The Greater Depository of Chicago. Our Ride to Drive out Hunger begins November 1st and runs through until November 21st, 2016. Your chauffeur will happily accept your donations when he picks you up for your ride. You can also donate online at https://www.myfooddrive.org/drive.php?2745a58069 or drop off canned goods and other non-perishable items at our Schiller Park Office on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, from 7:30am until 4:00pm or on Saturdays from 10:00am until 6:00pm.

If you are giving canned goods to your chauffeur or dropping them off at our office, we will give you Carma Cash in show of our appreciation. Carma Cash has a $5 value for the food drive and can be redeemed as a credit on a future ride of your choice. If you are donating online, you can still receive you Carma Cash, just email us at [email protected] with your address and we’ll send you your Carma Cash. Donating is just good CARma. Thank you in advance for supporting this very worthy cause. With your help, we can help end hunger.

For questions regarding our Chicago limo Ride to Drive out Hunger food drive, contact Rebecca at Going Green Limousine at (773) 295-5959. Thanks again!

If you are uncertain of how the stretch limo interiors look, you should ask your limo reservationist to email you photos or direct you to their stretch limo photo gallery on their limo website. While most limo transportation companies will provide you with a nice stretch limo, if it isn’t what you were expecting, then you will be disappointed. Better to have Peace of Mind and know exactly what your stretch limo will look like so that you can plan for your limo event. If you would like to see any of our stretch limos, you may request photos by email or visit our Going Green Limousine Chicago stretch limos at our Schiller Park location. Please call 773 295 5959 to schedule a stretch limo fleet viewing today.

What about the limos themselves? They are newer, meticulously clean, and mechanically maintained to provide you with a safe and comfortable ride. Vehicles range from sedans to stretch limos, but you can rest assured that a limo service will be sure you get a car that you will enjoy riding in. And don’t forget, that professional chauffeur will help you get even more comfortable by adjusting the temperature to meet your needs and setting the ambiance with music of your request.
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Is insurance important? What about business licenses? Yes! Professional limousine services will always have the proper insurance and registration required to operate in the town in which it is licensed. Getting into a vehicle that is not commercially insured could be disastrous for all parties involved and is completely unacceptable in the limo industry. Furthermore, not being properly licensed and registered could mean leaving a passenger stranded by the side of the road, which would be intolerable and stressful. A good limo company knows the importance of following rules and regulations and providing peace of mind at all times.

The next time you need airport transportation, limo service, or have a wedding, birthday, or any other event, consider your ground transportation options and what type of service will best get you to your destinations safely and on time. Then choose a limo company that is highly rated and reputable so that you know you will be receiving the top notch service you deserve. You may always call Going Green Limousine, Chicago limo service for all of Illinois, Northwest Indiana, and Milwaukee Wisconsin areas. 773 295 5959